Keying assembly for coding inserts



ug 24, 1965 E. sATHER ETAL KEYING ASSEMBLY FOR CODING INSERTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2l, 1963 ggg/5% INVENTORS E @612e ,'arif f 2357/462? 'o/ef w m47 #{QQATTORNEYS lg- 24, 1965 E. sATHl-:R ETAL 3,202,095

KEYING ASSEMBLY FOR CODING INSERTS Filed May 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug 24, 1965 E. sATHER ETAL 3,202,095

KEYING ASSEMBLY FOR CODING INSERTS t@ w ,1 HORN/Ys Aug. 24, 1965 E. sA'rHl-:R ETAL KEYING ASSEMBLY FOR CODING INSERTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2l, 1963 INVENTORL fige@ ,czjzef eef /aC/ef T! 4, A TTORN- YS Aug. 24, 1965 E. sATHl-:R ETAL KEYING ASSEMBLY FOR CODING INSERTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2l, 1963 INVENTORS Eigene ,'aiffzef Zegezq focef mg gw/Q1 TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,202,095 KEYING ASSEMBLY FOR CODING INSERTS Eugene Sather, Washington, and Lester H. Stocker,

Ihillipsburg, NJ., assignors to Bell fz Howell Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 21, 1963, Ser. No. 282,029 12 (Ilaims, (Cl. 101-233) The present invention relates to improvements in selective imprinting devices and more particularly concerns an arrangement which is especially useful on a machine which successively removes inserts from a stack and delivers them to an insert track for eventual insertion into mailing envelopes. Such a machine is commonly referred to as an inserter.

It is often desirable to apply selective identifying or coding letters, numerals, symbols, and the like, to key return envelopes, information blanks and cards, information request cards, order blanks, etc., in order to analyze returns from mailing campaigns, effect departmental routing, and the like. Application of the keying imprint is most effectively and efficiently accomplished coincident with the drawing of each insert to be imprinted from an insert magazine or supply hopper in the course ot effec-ting assembly in the associated machine of the inserts with mechanism by which the inserts are eventually stuled or inserted into mailing envelopes.

As an example of a currently commercially available inserter of the type produced and sold by the assignee of this application is A. H. Williams Patent 2,325,455 issued July 27, 1943 and which for brevity as to environmental `structural details in the present disclosure is included by reference.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved insert keying device which is especially Vsuitable for use with an inserter as exemplified by the aforesaid patent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved keying device adapted to be constructed and `arranged as an attachment to be applied to existing inserters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved keying device having a novel compact, positive and direct driving connection with the insert p gripper arm actuating shaft of the inserter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved keying device having an imprinting roll and an impression roll with means controlled by each insert to be imprinted to release the impression roll for coaction with the imprinting roll.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide novel insert-actuated trip means for controlling operation of the impression roll in an insert keying device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel `meansin an insert keying device for controlling coaction of an inking roll with the imprinting roll of an insert keying device.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide new `and improved means in an insert keying device for controlling a coding numeral head of an insert keying device.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present Ainvention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawj FIGURE 5 is a more or less schematic sectional side elevational view of the inking roll controlling mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view of a slightly modified imprinting roll structure; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational detail view taken substantially on the line VII-VII of FIGURE 6.

In FIGURES l, 2, and 3, a more or less schematic showing of the environmental structure of the inserting machine has been shown to provide bare essentials for understanding the mounting and operation of the keying device in the machine, and for a more detailed disclosure of the machine reference is made to the above identified patent. In such machine an insert gripper arm l@ is mounted on an oscillating shaft 11 to swing in an arc in front of an insert supply station 12 which comprises a hopper holding a stack of inserts 13 in a substantially horizontal plane with the lower end of the magazine disposed at an elevation relative to coactive stationary and movable jaws I4 and I5 on the lower end of the arm It) 4to enable gripping of the front margin of the lowermost insert 13 in the rearmost, insert receiving position of the gripper arm jaw assembly for withdrawing the insert as the arm I0 is swung forwardly to the opposite end of its oscillating arc to deposit the withdrawn insert into an insert conveyor (not shown) on a table t. Opening and closing of the movable jaw 1S is effected in timed sequence by a link 18 connected to a crank disk 19 attached to an oscillatable or rock shaft 26 carried by the several insert gripper arms lil of the machine, as fully described in the aforesaid patent. It will be understood that means such as suction cup deflectors are associated with the lower end of the insert supply magazine I2 as described in the aforesaid patent for downwardly deflecting the front margin of the lowermost insert in the stack for engagement by the gripper arm jaws and in timed relation to the operation of the gripper arm.

For imprinting desired code markings on the undersides of the inserts 13 as they are drawn from the magazine 12 toward the insert track of the machine by the gripper arm itl, an imprinting roll 21 is mounted on the table I7 adjacent to the front of the lower end of the magazine 12 and at a suitable elevation therebelow adjacent to the path of travel of the insert. mounting of the roll 21 iseffected by means of a rotary shaft 22 on which it is xed and which shaft is supported at its opposite end portions by means such as suitable bearing blocks 23. Type 24 is replaceably mounted in imprinting position on the printing roll 21 by means of a suitable type holder assembly 25.

Means are provided for operating the printing roll 21 in timed relation to the oscillations of the gripper arm 10 to have the type 24 in proper position and moving at a peripheral speed coincident with the speed of travel of each of the inserts 13 drawn from the magazine 12 by the arm 10 and transported to the insert track on the machine, to attain a clear, smudge-free imprint of the code marking applied by the type in the form of letters, numerals, symbols, and the like, as preferred. A simple, efficient, and positive driving co-ordination is attained by coupling the printing roll 21 with the arm-driving oscillating shaft 11 through a chain and gear transmission including a sprocket chain 27 trained over a suitable sprocket 28 and fixed on the roll shaft 22 and extending upwardly therefrom and trained over a transmission sprocket 29 carried tixedly on a rotary shaft 30 supported in a horizontal plane rearwardly adjacent to the shaft 11 by suitable bracket means desiredly comprising a pair of spaced parallel vertically elongated bearing bars 31. Individual bearing bracket bars assembled with the respective opposite end portions of the transmission shafts 30` simplify Rotary the mechanism, and their mounting is easily effected by means of screws 32 extending through vertically elongated adjustment slots 33 in the supporting bracket bars and clampingly securing them in proper vertical adjustment to the front faces of existing spaced parallel horizontal frame bars 3dof the machine.

Attached to one of the bracket bars 31 at a location between the frame bars 34 is a tensioning idler sprocket 35 carried by a horizontal rearwardly projecting idler arm 37 adjustably attached to the associated bracket bar by means of a screw 355 extending through a longitudinally elongated adjustment slot 39 in the idler arm. By thrusting into the rear run of the sprocket chain 27, the idler sprocket 35 maintains a proper tensioned condition of the chain, but can be readily retracted by loosening a screw 38 when it is desired to slacken the chain for any reason.

Motivating power from the rock shaft 11 is transmitted to the sprocket yshaft 3d by means of a segmental gear it? lixedly attached to the rock shaft by means such as a clamping yoke device 41. Meshing with the segmental gear 40 is a transmission pinion 42 which is iixedly mounted on the shaft 3i). Through this arrangement, oscillations of the rock shaft 11 throughout its range of gripper arm swinging movement effect corresponding driving of the gear and chain transmission to effect corresponding oscillatory movements of the printing roll 21, it being understood that the gear ratio of the several transmission gears and sprockets is properly selected to afford the desired correlation of oscillations of the printing roll Z1 with swinging movements of the gripper arm 1t). As the gripper arm lltl moves inwardly toward the insert magazine 12, the printing roll 21 is concurrently driven clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1 to carry the type 24 rearwardly. As the gripper arm 1@ swings outwardly, the printing roll 21 turns counterclockwise with a peripheral speed synchronized with the linear speed at which the gripper arm draws the insert away from the magazine. In FIGURE l the relationship of parts is depicted as at the moment of full imprinting contact of the type Z4 with the insert 13.

As the type 24 rotates into printing position, an impression roll litaffords a pressure backing against the upper face of the insert 13 directly opposite the type. This irnpression roll 43 is mounted to clear it from the arc of movement of the type 24 except during actual imprinting contact of the type with one of the inserts 13. For this purpose the impression roll is mounted rotatably on a carrying body 44 tixedly attached to an oscillating shaft 45 rotatably supported by bracket arms 47 secured to the front faces of the lower portions of the bracket bars 31 in vertically relative adjustable relation by means of screws 48 extending through respective vertically elongated slots 49 in the arms. As best seen in FIGURE l, the axis of shaft 45 is located upwardly and forwardly from the axis of the impression roll i3 whereby the impression roll can be conveniently swung upwardly and rearwardly, as shown in FGURE 4, away from the arc of travel of the printing face of the type 24 except when one of the inserts 13 is in position to be imprinted.

Means for upward inactivation or clearance swinging of the impression roll 43 desirably comprises a rock lever which is fixedly attached to the rock shaft 45 as by means of a bifurcation clamp device 51 and projects upwardly so that its upper end portion opposes the lower of the machine frame bars 3d so that a stop screw 51a Icarried by the head portion of the rocker arm will engage the forward face of such frame bar in order to enable adjustment of impression roll pressure against the insert being imprinted.

Rocking of the rocker arm 5@ is effected automatically in timed sequence with operations of the gripper arm and the printing roll 21 by means of a link 52 having its opposite ends bifurcated and with its front end portion pivotally secured by pin 53 to an intermediate reduced thickness portion 54 of the rocker arm 50. From this front end connection, the link 52 extends rearwardly and downwardly and has its rear end portion pivotally secured by a pin 55 to the upper end portion of a vertical rock lever 57 which has its lower end portion mounted on a pivot stub shaft 5S supported by a bracket 59 (FIG- URE 3) attached to the rear face of a vertical supporting plate bar et? below the rear edge of the table 17. The bracket 59 is one of several which support a cam shaft 62 of the machine, forwardly of which the rock lever 57 is mounted in position to have a cam 53 carried iixedly by the cam shaft 62 engaged with a follower roller 64 carried by the rock lever 57 under bias thrust herein `supplied by a tension spring 65 attached at its forward end to the upper end of the rock lever 57 and at its rear end to an anchor stud 67 and pulling the rock lever 57 rearwardly to maintain the roller 64 in contact with the cam d3. Throughout the major extent of its perimeter, the cam 63 is a concentric with the shaft 62 and coacts with the follower roller 6ft to thrust the rock lever 57 forwardly in opposition to the bias of the spring 65 and through the link 52 and the rock arm 60 to maintain the impression roll 53 in its inactive rearwardly raised position as shown in FIGURE 4. In this position the imprinting type 24 can oscillate from its forwardly turned limit of movement with the printing roll 21 to its nearmost position as the printing roll is oscillated concurrently with inward swinging of the gripper arm 14B toward insert gripping position, without contact of the rimpression roll in smudging relation with the type face.

When in the timed sequence of operation an insert 13 has been moved into position for printing, the follower 64 rides into a cam recess 68 in the perimeter of the rotary cam disk 63, whereupon the impression roll kickout linkage is released for motivation by the biasing spring 65 to return the impression roll 43 to its active impressing position as shown in FIGURE l.

Should for some reason due to malfunction, or exhaust of the supply of insertsfno insert be drawn into imprinting position by the gripper arm 10 as it swings back from the magazine 12 in its cycle of operation, it is desirable to restrain the impression roll 43 against moving into impressing position with respect to the printing roll 21, so as to avoid any possibility of impressing on the impression roll a smudging imprint `which would thereafter be offset onto the upper face of a succeeding insert. Herein this problem has been solved by the provision of insert-responsive saftey control means in the form of a disabling latch and trip device which will prevent descent of the impression roll 43 unless an insert is in the imprinting position. Such device conveniently comprises abellcrank-like member 69 including a forwardly projecting latch arm 7! provided with a distal generally downwardly directed angular latching lug 71, and a divergent generally downwardlly extending straight trip arm 72.

Means are provided for mounting the trip latch 69 in such a position alongside the impression roll carriage body 44 as to enable engagement by the latching lug 71 interlockingly with a properly placed latching or keeper lug conveniently in the form yof a pin 73 projecting from that end of the body 44. Accordingly, the lever member 69 is pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to a supporting bracket 74 which is vertically adjustably attached by means of screws 75 extending through vertically elongated adjustment aperatures or slots 77 in the base of the bracket to a vertical supporting plate 78 which comprises the front wall of the magazine 12 and is carried by the frame bars 34. As best seen in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 4, the keeper pin carrying end of the impression roll carriage 4M- is close to alignment with an adjacent side of a downwardly opening clearance cutout 79 in the lower margin of the plate 78 generally over the path of and affording clearance for the open jaw 15 of the gripper arm 10 incident to engagement of one of the inserts 13. This places the trip latch member 69 at one side of the path of movement of the gripper jaws and between such path of movement and the adjacent end of the carriage 44.

When properly adjusted, the vertically swingable trip latch member 69 has the latch arm 70 in such overlying relation to the keeper projection 73 that when the impression roll carriage 44 is pivoted into its printing roll clearing, inactivated position as shown in FIGURE 4, the latching finger lug 71 engages the keeper 73 by gravitational downward bias of the latch arm 70. At the same time, the trip arm 72 hangs down, in this instance substantially vertically to extend in and below the path of movement of the insert 13 which is grasped and drawn forwardly between the printing roll 21 and the impression roll 43 by the jaws of the gripper arm 10.

If, for any reason, the gripper arm fails to transport one of the inserts 13 forwardly between the printing and impression rolls, the trip arm 72 will, of course, fail to be tripped, and the latch finger 71 will maintain its engagement with the keeper 73, so that when the cam recess 68 of the cam disk 63 registers with the follower 64, the latter will not ride into the cam recess under the bias of the spring 65 on the linkage mechanism. As a result, the impression roll 43 remains elevated and clear of the imprint face of the type 24 as the printing roll 21 is driven in its cycle by the transmission drive coupling it with the rock shaft 11.

On the other hand, although after each insert-withdrawing cycle, the latch finger 71 latchingly engages with the keeper 73, each succeeding insert transported forwardly by the gripper arm engages at its forward edge with the trip arm 72 and as such edge advances rocks the trip arm 72 and thereby the integral latch arm 70 clockwise as seen in FIGURE l whereby to clear the latching linger 71 from the keeper 73 at least slightly in advance of riding of the follower 64 into the cam recess 68, so that normal operating cycle of the impression roll 43 coordinated with operation of the printing roll 21 to press the insert 13 into imprinting relation to the type 24 occurs normally, as depicted in FIGURE 1. Thus, the trip latch device 69 assures that the impression roll 43 will be released for cooperation with the printing roll 21 only when an insert is in position therebetween for imprinting, and avoids any direct contact between the type face and the impression roll.

Means are provided for inking the imprinting face of the'type 24 of the printing roll 21, herein comprising an `ink impregnated inking roll 8i) mounted in suitable position behind the imprinting roll to be engaged by the type face adjacent the rearmost position of the type in the oscillating cycle of movement on the printing roll. Since the inking roll 8i) is of the saturated variety, one inking of the type thereby will suiiice for a plurality of imprints of inserts. Therefore the inking roll is mounted and operated to be engaged by the type face only once in a predetermined plurality of full cycles of the printing roll 21 timed with the pull-out jaw gripper arm l@ of the machine.

Conveniently, timing of the inking roll 3 is affected by the cam shaft 62 which for this purpose carries fixed thereon a cam disk 81 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) provided with a cam indentation S2 and engaged by the follower roller 33 mounted on a generally L-shaped arm 84 rigid with the rear of a rocker bracket frame 85 extending vertically adjacent to the back of the supporting panel bar plate 60 of the machine table and pivotally mounted at its lower end on a' horizontal shaft 87 supported by a mounting bar 88 secured as by means of screws 89 to the plate 60. Por quick detachment of the inking roll assembly, the shaft 87 is in the form of a rod having at one end a manipulating handle 90, while a thumbtype set screw 91 is provided for holding the shaft against longitudinal displacement with respect to the lower ends of the pivotally mounted arms of the rocker bracket at each end of the mounting bar 88, but quickly releasable for pulling the shaft 87 to release the rocker bracket when desired.

Normally the rocker bracket 85 is biased, to maintain the follower roller 83 in firm riding engagement with the cam disk 81, by means of a pair of biasing springs 92. of preferably equal length for substantially equalized tension, both of which have forward ends anchored to anchor lugs 93 on the plate 60 and one of which has its rear end attached to an extension arm 94 mounted on one of the side arms of the rocker bracket, while the other has its rear end attached to an anchor pin projection 95 carried by the rear end portion ofthe follower arm 84.

4Freely rotatable mounting of the inking roll 80 on a horizontal axis and in proper alignment with the printing roll 21 is effected by a shaft 97 carried by and between the upper ends of the arms comprising the rocker bracket frame 85. Quick removal of the shaft 97, is enabled by retaining it by means of set screws 98. Longitudinal adjustment of the inking roll 8i) along the shaft 97 for proper alignment with the type 24 is enabled by having the length of the shaft 97 substantially longer` than the inking -roll, and confining the freely rotatable roll to a longitudinal or axial position on the shaft by means such as readily adjustable and detachable set screw fastened retaining bushings or collars 99 (FIG. 3).

In order to maintain a properly `adjusted relation of the periphery of the inking roll for positive but not overpressed inking contact of the type face therewith and to maintain the perimeter of the inking roll positively spaced from the perimeter of the printing roll 21 except for the type face, adjustable stop means are provided, herein comprising a stop screw 100 threaded through a trans- Verse bar 101 of the generally H-shaped rocker bracket frame SS and engaging at its tip against the supporting plate 60. To lock the stop screw in adjusted position, a locking thumb nut 102 is threaded on the stop screw and is engageable against the bar 101.

By proper timing of the cam disk 81 in respect to the cycling of the printing roll 21, the inking roll 8th-in the present instance, is kicked out of register with the type 24 twice in each three cycles of the inking roll, so that only once in each three cycles is the inking roll 80 in position to be inkly engaged by the face of the type 24. In each such inking contact a progressively advanced peripheral face of the inking roll is engaged by having the inking roll of a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the perimeter described by the type face. Therefore the inking roll 80 can function for a long period of operation between reinkings thereof and it will have a long wearfree useful life. i

In the modification of FIGURES 6 and 7, an insert keying or code imprinting device is depicted which is essentially similar to the form already described, as indicated by primed reference numerals identifying various parts, but is equipped with an indexable printing head 25' on the printing roll 21. In order to concentrate on the indexing means, and because of the substantial similarity of structure and function with respect to the remainder of the assembly, most of the elements have been omitted from these figures, even thoughy as is apparent, some of the parts are somewhat differently shaped and located.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the table 17' has mounted thereon the printing roll21 carried by the shaft 22 mounted rotatably on 'bearing blocks 23' attached in spaced parallel relation to the table 17. Type 24 is supported by the indexing head 25 of the printing roll. The impression roll 43 carried by the body carrying block 44 mounted fixedly on the rotary shaft 45 supported by the bracket arms 47 is swingable toward and away from the printing roll as motivated by the mechanism including the rocker arm 50 fastened on the shaft 45'. To this arm linkage mechanism identified as 52 is attached, actuation being accomplished in timed relationto the associated gripper arm through the cam shaft 62 (FIG. 7) in similar fashion as described in connection with the form of FIGURE 1. Also, an insert-actuated trip latch is provided to retain the impression roll against dropping into impressing relation to the printing roll unless trip arm 72 is actuated by the advancing insert to be imprinted.

In order to index the type 24 step-by-step, such as in a numerical sequence, the indexing head 25 has ya trip lever 103 carried by an indexing shaft 104i projecting from one end of the printing roll 21 to be engaged and actuated by a trip finger 105 as the printing roll Z1 is oscillated through the endless flexible chain drive operating through the :sprocket 28.

Since the trip finger 195 must actuate the indexing lever 103 only once in each complete cycle of oscillation of the printing roll 21', means are provided for moving the trip finger into engaging relation to the indexing lever in predetermined timed sequence and then retracting the finger to clear the indexing lever in the remainder of the oscillating cycle of the printing roll. To this end, the trip finger 105 is mounted to lie on the table 17 normally in clearance relation under the indexing lever 103 with the rear end portion of the finger extending rearwardly a substantial distance to underlie the cam shaft 62 Attached at one of its ends to the rear end portion of the finger 105 is an actuating link 107 which at its opposite end is pivotally attached `to a bracket 198 securedto the under side of the bottom plate of the insert magazine 12. rearwardly from the cam shaft. A follower roller 1499 carried by the link 107 rides the perimeter of a cam disk 110 having cam at 111 on a portion of its perimeter. Means comprising a tension spring 112 attached at one end to the finger 105 and at the other end to a stud 113 carried by the plate 60 pulls the link and finger assembly toward the cam 110, so that, as the follower roller 1619 rides onto the cam fiat 111, the link and nger move forwardly to carry the finger into tripping relation to the indexinglever 103 in proper timed sequence with operations of the associated gripper jaw arm and the printing roll 21.

In either form of the keying device the assembly comprises an attachment that can be readily applied in association with any or most of the insert stations of the associated machine, whether an existing machine, or a newly manufactured machine to which the keying assembly may be attached as an optional accessory.

Although the keying assembly as disclosed in FlGURE -1 is mounted at the right side of the associated insert magazine, a relatively simple relocation of parts will adapt the assembly for mounting at the left side of the magazine. Similarly, although the assembly depicted in FIGURE 6 is devised to be located at the left side of the magazine, it may be readily adapted for mounting rat the right side of the magazine.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an inserter comprising a conveyor table with an insert magazine adjacent thereto and a rock shaft carrying a gripper jaw arm oscillated by the shaft between an insert gripping position adjacent the magazine and a position remote from the magazine and between which positions the gripper jaws of the arm transportan insert from the magazine onto the conveyor table,

the improvement comprising a keying assembly including a printing roll mounted rotatably on the table adjacent to the magazine to imprint the inserts as they are transported,

means or `driving said printing roll oscillatably including an endless exable driving member coupled with the roll and trained over a rotatable member on a shaft located in adjacent spaced relation to said rock shaft,

S a .pinion mounted on said rotatable member shaft, and a gear member mounted on said rock shaft and meshing with said pinion and thereby driving said endless iiexible driving member and said printing roll in timed synchronization with oscillations of said gripper jaw arm.

2. An inserter as defined in claim 1 wherein said endless driving member comprises a sprocket chain and the gear member on the rock shaft comprises a segmental gear.

3. An inserter including a conveyor table having frame structure above the rear portion thereof and an insert magazine rearwardly of said structure adjacent to the table and with its lower end elevated above the table, comprising a rock shaft mounted` at a substantial elevation above the table and having depending therefrom a gripper jaw arm arranged to oscillate by rocking of the shaft to carry a gripping jaw into position to engage the lowermost insert from the magazine and draw such insert forwardly under said frame structure to deposit the yinsert on the table,

imprinting means mounted on the table and on said frame structure for imprinting code markings on the successive inserts as they are transported from the magazine to the table,

means providing a driving connnection between said rock shaft and that portion of said imprinting means which is mounted on the table,

a cam shaft rearwardly of said table under the magazine and carrying a timing cam, and means providing a driving connection between the cam and one of said portions of the imprinting means and acting on said one portion of effect timed inactivation lthereof relative to the other .portion of the imprinting means.

4. 1n an inserter assembly including an insert magazine and an insert receiving and supporting structure,

means for transporting inserts from the magazine to the receiving and supporting structure,

a printing roll including imprinting type thereon,

means for operatively driving the printing roll in timed cylindrical relation to transportation of the inserts from the magazine to the supporting and receiving structure for imprintingly applying the type on the printing roll to the inserts as they are moved past the printing roll,

an inking roll,

means supporting the inking roll for movement into and out of inking relation to the type on the printing roll,

and means for actuating said inking roll supporting means to engage the inking roll with the type on the printing roll only once in a plurality of cycles of operation of the printing roll.

5. An inserter including a table having a vertical supporting bar structure below its rear edge and a magazine for supporting a supply of inserts located in spaced relation above said rear edge,

means for successively transporting inserts from the magazine to said table, an insert imprinting assembly mounted on said table adjacent to said rear edge in the path of movement of the inserts as they are transported from the magazine to the table and including type for imprinting keying marks on the inserts,

means for actuating the imprinting assembly to coordinate movement of the type with movements of the inserts in said path, an inking roll, a bracket frame carrying the inking roll, means rockably mounting the inking roll frame on said vertical supporting bar structure with said inking roll located rearwardly adjacent to the imprinting assembly, Y

means normally biasing said frame to rock the same to carry the inking roll into inking relation to the type of the imprinting assembly,

means on the frame and on said bar structure to maintain the perimeter of the inking roll when nearest the type in position to engage only the printing face of the type under the iniiuence of said biasing means,

and means coordinated in operation with said imprinting assembly for rocking said frame in opposition to said biasing means to move the inking roll out of contacting relation to the type except at predetermined intervals in timed relation to actuation of the imprinting assembly.

6. An inserter as deiined in claim 5, in which said means rockably mounting the inking roll frame on the vertical supporting bar structure comprise mounting means on the supporting bar structure, a shaft rockably connecting the bracket frame to the mounting means, means releasably retaining the shaft, and handle means on the shaft enabling pulling of the shaft to release the bracket frame when said releasing means is released from the shaft.

7. An inserter including a table having a vertical supporting bar structure below its rear edge and a magazine for supporting a supply of inserts located in spaced relation above said rear edge,

means for successively transporting inserts from the magazine to said table,

an insert imprinting assembly mounted on said table adjacent to said rear edge in the path of movement of the inserts as they are transported from the magazine to the table and including type for imprinting keying marks on the inserts,

means for actuating the imprinting assembly to coordinate movement of the type with movements of the inserts in said path,

an inking roll,

a bracket frame carrying the inking roll,

means rockably mounting the inking roll frame on said vertical supporting bar structure with said inking roll located rearwardly adjacent to the imprinting assembly,

means normally biasing said frame to rock the same to carry the inking roll into inking relation to the type of the imprinting assembly,

means on the frame and on said bar structure to maintain the perimeter of the inking roll when nearest the type in position to engage only the printing face of the type under the influence of said biasing means,

a rotary shaft mounted rearwardly from said inking roll and carrying a corotative cam,

and a follower arm extending rearwardly on said frame and having a follower engaging said cam and actuated in the rotations of the cam to edect rocking movements of the frame in coactive relation to said biasing means for moving the inking roll out of the path of movement of the type except at predetermined intervals in timed relation to actuation of the imprinting assembly.

8. An inserter including a receiving and supporting table structure and a magazine for a supply of inserts and having a discharge portion located at an elevation above said table structure,

means for transporting the inserts successively in a path from said magazine discharge portion to said table structure,

a printing roll rotatably mounted on said table structure under said path of the inserts for imprinting keying or code markings onto the undersurfaces of the inserts as'they move through the path,

means for rotatably driving the imprinting roll,

an indexable type carrying head on said roll,

means on one end portion of said roll for progressively indexing the type and including a lever,

an indexing linger slidably mounted on said table structure under said lever so as to be engageable with the lever in the rotations of the imprinting roll,

and means for moving said indexing linger reciprocably into and out of engageable relation to said indexing means lever in timed relation to rotations of the imprinting roll.

9. An inserter as deiined in claim 8, in which the means for moving the indexing nger reciprocably comprises a rocker mounted on the magazine and having a follower, and cam means operable to actuate the rocker in timed relation to rotations of the printing roll.

l0. An inserter including a conveyor table having frame structure above the rear portion thereof and an insert magazine rearwardly of said structure adjacent to the table and with its lower end elevated above the table,

comprising a rock shaft mounted at a substantial elevation above the table and having depending therefrom a gripper jaw arm arranged to oscillate by rocking of the shaft to carry a gripping jaw into position to engage the lowermost insert from the magazine and draw such insert forwardly under said frame structure to deposit the insert on the table, p

means comprising a type-carrying portion mounted on the table and an impression roll portion mounted on said frame structure and cooperative for imprinting code markings on the successive inserts as they are transported between said portions from the magazine to the table,

means providing a driving connection between said rock shaft and said type-carrying portion,

said impression roll portion including a pivoted carriage supporting an impression roll,

a cam shaft rearwardly of said table under the magazine,

a timing cam on said cam shaft,

a cam follower device engaging and acuated by said cam,

a link providing a driving connection between said cam follower device and said pivoted carriage whereby actuation of said follower and link causes timed pivoting of said carriage to move said impression roll into impressing cooperation with said type-carrying portion correlated with said rock shaft,

and inking means carried by means movably mounted on said table and shiftably actuated by said cam shaft to move toward and from the type-carrying portion in timed sequence with operation of the typecarrying portion through the driving connection with the rock shaft.

1l. An inserter as defined in claim 10, including releasable latch means operative to hold the impression roll carriage in a pivoted position away from said type-carrying portion and including a trip element engageable by an insert transported by said gripping jaw to release the latch means to permit the carriage to pivot toward said typecarrying portion.

12. An inserter as defined in claim 10, in which said carriage has fixedly thereon a rocker arm, and means carried by said arm for adjusting the approach of the carriage and the impression roll toward said type-carrying portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,595,849 8/26 Zimbel lOl-77 2,062,876 12/36 Gerramann 101--118 2,325,455 7/43 Williams 53-57 2,387,750 10/45 Davidson 101-218 2,625,102 1/53 Skow 101-232 2,642,798 6/53 Ras lOl-352 X 2,667,831 2/54 Streich 101-233 2,929,319 3/60 Skow 101--232 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Examiner. 

1. IN AN INSERTER COMPRISING A CONVEYOR TABLE WITH AN INSERT MAGAZINE ADJACENT THERETO AND A ROCK SHAFT CARRYING A GRIPPER JAW ARM OSCILLATED BY THE SHAFT BETWEEN AN INSERT GRIPPING POSITION ADJACENT THE MAGAZINE AND A POSITION REMOTE FROM THE MAGAZINE AND BETWEEN WHICH POSITIONS THE GRIPPER JAWS OF THE ARM TRANSPORT AN INSERT FROM THE MAGAZINE ONTO THE CONVEYOR TABLE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A KEYING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PRINTING ROLL MOUNTED ROTATABLY ON THE TABLE ADJACENT TO THE MAGAZINE TO IMPRINT THE INSERTS AS THEY ARE TRANSPORTED, MEANS OR DRIVING SAID PRINTING ROLL OSCILLATABLY INCLUDING AN ENDLESS FLEXABLE DRIVING MEMBER COUPLED WITH THE ROLL AND TRAINED OVER A ROTATABLE MEMBER ON A SHAFT LOCATED IN ADJACENT SPACED RELATION TO SAID ROCK SHAFT. A PINION MOUNTED ON SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER SHAFT, AND A GEAR MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID ROCK SHAFT AND MESHING WITH SAID PINION AND THEREBY DRIVING SAID ENDLESS FLEXIBLE DRIVING MEMBER AND SAID PRINTING ROLL IN TIMED SYNCHRONIZATION WITH OSCILLATIONS OF SAID GRIPPER JAW ARM. 